US Congress angered by continued Saudi boycott of Israel

US congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle have expressed outrage after learning that Saudi Arabia is blatantly violating a pledge to stop boycotting Israel and Israeli-made goods.

The congressional leaders voiced their anger following a Jerusalem Post report last week that detailed how the Saudi have in fact been steadily intensifying the enforcement of the Arab League trade embargo against Israel in recent years.

That is despite a promise by Riyadh in 2005 to drop the boycott in exchange for Washington's support in gaining entry into the World Trade Organization.

"Saudi Arabia's disregard of its 2005 pledge to end the boycott against Israel is unacceptable," Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind) told the Post. "Congress and the administration must hold Saudi Arabia accountable."

Rep. Howard Berman (D-Ca), who chairs the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he didn't appreciate being lied to by the Saudis, and vowed to "pursue this matter with the [Obama] administration."

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